Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! The History of the Holiday St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over a thousand years.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

What do snakes, corned beef and leprechauns have in common? St. Patrick's Day. Check out all kinds of links on St. Patricks Day here:

Winter is set to continue for six more weeks in the US, according to the country's most famous forecaster - Punxsutawney Phil.

The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow at the 123rd annual Groundhog Day observance in Punxsutawney, about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh.

According to legend, this meant that the already long winter would continue for six more weeks.

Punxsutawney Phil's forecast was announced in front of thousands of revelers gathered on Gobbler's Knob, a tiny hill in Punxsutawney, a borough of about 6,100 residents.

A member of the Groundhog Inner Circle took Phil from his tree stump home and, as the crowd held its breath, an announcer said: "As I look around me, a bright sky I see and a shadow beside me, six more weeks of winter it will be."

Though the groundhog saw his shadow signifying another chilly six weeks, the crowd still roared with applause.

German settler tradition holds that if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on February 2 - the Christian holiday of Candlemas - winter would last another six weeks.

If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early.

Since 1887, the grundhog has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Interest in the Groundhog Day festivities got a huge boost after the release of the 1993 film in which Bill Murray plays a television reporter covering the event.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." --Confucius

"Be not afraid of going slow, be afraid only of standing still."...Chinese Proverb

What do the Chinese believe should be done before every Chinese New Year?

The entire house should be cleaned before the Chinese New Year's Day (or the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice). On New Year's Eve, all brooms, brushes, dusters, dust pans and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." --Confucius

"Be not afraid of going slow, be afraid only of standing still."...Chinese Proverb

America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence.

~~Spontaneous Celebrations

Following its adoption, the Declaration was read to the public in various American cities. Whenever they heard it, patriots erupted in cheers and celebrations.

In 1777, Philadelphians remembered the 4th of July. Bells were rung, guns fired, candles lighted, and firecrackers set off. However, while the War of Independence dragged on, July 4 celebrations were modest at best.

When the war ended in 1783, July 4 became a holiday in some places. In Boston, it replaced the date of the Boston Massacre, March 5, as the major patriotic holiday. Speeches, military events, parades, and fireworks marked the day. In 1941, Congress declared July 4 a federal holiday.

~~John Adams Urged Recognition

The second president, John Adams, would have approved. "I believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival," he wrote his wife, Abigail. "It ought to be celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other..."

~~John Hancock Was First

John Hancock, the president of the Second Continental Congress, was the first to sign the Declaration. With its ornate capitals, Hancock's sprawling signature is prominent on the document. Since then, when people are asked for their "John Hancock," they are being asked to sign their names.

All 56 men who ultimately signed the Declaration showed great courage. Announcing independence from Great Britain was an act of treason, punishable by death.

~~A Marvelous Document

The Declaration of Independence itself has become one of the most admired and copied political documents of all time. It was written by Thomas Jefferson and revised by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Jefferson.

The Declaration of Independence is a justification of the American Revolution, citing grievances against King George III. It is also a landmark philosophical statement, drawing on the writings of philosophers John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau. It affirms that since all people are creatures of God, or nature, they have certain natural rights, or liberties, that cannot be violated.

The Declaration and the American Revolution have since inspired freedom-seekers the around the world.

"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." --Confucius

"Be not afraid of going slow, be afraid only of standing still."...Chinese Proverb

On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.

Yep! 30 days to go, and I don't have to do anything but nag my kids to get their wish lists to me. They always pretend that they don't know what they want, or what the grandkids need. By the time I fly up north to do my shopping a few days before Christmas, they have given me pretty detailed lists though.

Since shopping is my favorite sport, I really enjoy those three or four days before Christmas when I go to dozens of stores and get tons of stuff to bestow upon them all (six kids, two of their spouses, two fiances, and seven grandkids).

Oh, yeah...I forgot...I have to address and sign several dozen Christmas cards too.

A very Happy Thanksgiving goes out to all. Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Von, I also love the message on your post. It takes a real "warrior," to fight in this war, and those young men and women are to be commended for risking their lives so that others may be free and live in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to each of them, not only on this day of giving thanks, but on all days.

Co-Leader of the Fitness Instructors Team Senior Moderator of the Dealing with Depression Team

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